February 15 2014

Visit with Mum. Wide awake when we got there.

Went into sensory room. Use magic carpet on a sheet over Helen. She Was not impressed with poppies or fish.  Water flowers and other flower scene really got her attention. She looked down at her legs.  She smiled through all of the flower scenes.  We watched a few episodes of family guy in the sensory room as well – she was looking and watching all the time. 

Back in her room I put the hairbrush in Helen’s right hand and brushed her hair.  The fingers on her right hand twitched.  I asked her to move her hand and brush her hair several times.  She did it!!  Just her fingers twitching a little bit.  I put the toothbrush in her hand and up to her mouth.  She pulled faces, moved her head away and also moved her hand downwards.  She did this several times.  I am trying to encourage her to react to everyday movements, whether this is hair brushing or tooth brushing!

February 12 2014

My Dad visited today as well. 

Helen was just getting up when I got there so had a chat with Judi. She was looking at Helen’s diary we have been writing. I told her that H has an appointment at SGH in 4 weeks. She was pleased to hear that. 

I also told her that I made contact with the research nurse at Cambridge to get Helen on the research programme there. Judi was very excited about that and wants to visit if Helen goes up there. She feels that H would real benefit from going there. She thinks that there is something in there just waiting to get out. She definitely feels that Helen responds, especially when asked to close her eyes. I emailed Evelyn to let her know that H had her appointment at SGH, just to keep her in the loop (and so Helen doesn’t get called when she is due to have a cranioplasty). 

Helen smiled when Lesley and T were trying to change the hand towel in the bathroom – not sure whether it was the movement or the laughter that attracted her attention! She seemed to be listening to them intently!

Helen looked at Big Grampy when he came in. He and I were talking about treatment and he joked that an electric shock might get her going. There was an instant reaction and he got a look as if to say “not bloody likely!”

February 3 2014

Visit to see Helen in the hydro pool.  She has been in twice before but this was the first time I have seen her.  Got there and she was in her leopard print tankini.

The hoist to put patients in the pool is fascinating!  The “stretcher” part moves from shower room to poolside and is connected to the hoist mechanism. The stretcher is lowered into the pool and the patient is floated off.

Helen seems to really enjoy hydro.  They started with her on a floating board and doing some stretches then they put a floating head support on and took her into the middle of the pool.  Raymond the physio held Helen all the time with the other physio doing the fetching, carrying of equipment and making sure no water got near her trachy.  The physio are able to move her limbs in ways that cannot be done on land.  There is also a closeness that cannot be achieved anywhere else.  Helen was supported by one of the physios, had her knees on his legs and her arms around the top of his arms.  They were able to lift her head up and she could support it herself because the float doubles as a head support.  It was emotional to see her upright with her head up.

She was in the pool about 35 minutes.  She was showered and went back to her room and promptly fell asleep!!

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February 2 2014

Posted on February 2, 2014 by ettenna67

Visited by Big Grampy who said that she was very quiet when he got there but there was nothing going on to stimulate her.  She wouldn’t raise her head but that changed when her nebuliser went on and suddenly she was more awake.  It was probably the noise!  She watched Big Bang with him.  She was moving her hands once or twice and did look at him before dropping off to sleep again.  She gave him a smile when he said he was going and kissed her goodbye.

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January 30 2014

Posted on January 30, 2014 by ettenna67

I took Helen upstairs and visited one of the other residents who enjoys seeing her.  She smiled at him!  This is the first time she’s done that and he was really pleased.

We finished watching Scrubs series 2.  We are gradually working our way through Scrubs.  Helen used to watch the series before her accident and she still enjoys it now.

I told the nurse in charge I would like to see the GP when he was back from his holiday. The next time will be 18 February.

Helen went upstairs to physio.  She s always tired when she comes back from this – they work her hard!  I had a lopsided smile from her when she came back.  We playyed hand squeezing.  She squeezed my thumb with hers (right hand) and repeated it when I asked her to do it again.  She managed to move her head back when it fell forward, without help.  This is a big improvement as she usually can’t do this.

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More Fundraising!!

Posted on January 27, 2014 by ettenna67

The girls and assorted friends and family are organising another fundraiser.  Tough Mudder!!!


Tough Mudder

“Tough Mudder events are hardcore 12 mile-long obstacle courses designed by the Special Forces to test your all round strangth, stamina, mental grit and camaraderie.  With the most innovative courses and 1 million inspiring participants worldwide to date, Tough Mudder is the premier adventure challenge series in the world.”

Personally I think they are bonkers!!  But most of them have started some sort of fitness regime (or at least thought about one).

Link to join Helen’s Hope team


Virgin Moneygiving for donations

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The Green Ribbon and Brain Injury is BIG

Posted on January 27, 2014 by ettenna67

Every now and again I change my profile picture of Facebook to the picture below.  I am trying to raise awareness of brain injuries and the effects on families and friends.  Brain injuries have such a devastating effect on everyone from the person involved to friends, family, work colleagues, health professionals and even people who don’t know the person.

Brain Injury is BIG Charity

The main charity I am involved in at the moment is Brain Injury is BIG.   The group is a support network for people who have loved ones with devastating brain injuries. They may be severely disabled, in a persistent vegetative state, minimally aware/conscious or locked in.

The charity started off with 5 people all in the same place, in the same hospital, in the same situation.  It has expanded over the last 2 years to involve 270+ people, some of whom are overseas.

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January 23 2014

Posted on January 23, 2014 by ettenna67

Visited with mum.  Helen seems quite tired today and kept drifting off.

We went into the sensory room with Louise.  She showed how to how to set it up so we can use at weekend.  Louise also showed Mum and another mum the magic carpet and played with it.

Sensory Guru Magic Carpet

We watched Moulin Rouge together.  Helen was wide wake for most of the film and seemed to enjoy watching it.

The mental capacity form for Court of Protection given to Agnes.  She will fill it in and return to me.

I asked when next dietician review is.  I want to ask about omega oil and Actimel in diet. The next date is 25th February.

Her costume has arrived and I need to find out when she is doing hydro.

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A year after moving to Holy Cross ….

Posted on January 21, 2014 by ettenna67

A year ago today Helen moved to Holy Cross. No one knew what improvements she would make, or whether she would. Over the last couple of months there have been some encouraging signs – smiling and tracking people. It’s only by looking back that we can reflect on how far things have moved on and how different she looks now.

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January 20 2014

Posted on January 20, 2014 by ettenna67

So I am slightly crapping myself. Tomorrow morning at 10am I will be on Radio Berkshire talking to Anne Diamond about Helen’s accident, our fundraising and the Brain Injury is BIG charity.

BBC Radio Berkshire

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